Claim by Lisa T. Bergren

1888 – Colorado

Sent west by their father to make a new life, the St. Clair siblings have done so—but hardly as he’d wished. Beautiful, headstrong Moira, after pursuing a career on the Paris stage, has returned to Colorado Springs—older, wiser, and certainly much poorer—to see if there’s anything left of a relationship she’d left behind. Older sister Odessa and her husband, Bryce, are struggling to rebuild their ranch after a devastating winter. And then Nic, the prodigal son, turns up—broken, haunted, and sick about leaving his sisters.

At last the family is reunited. But Dominic is still at loose ends, seeking a peace that has always eluded him. Only as he mines an old claim deep in the Rocky Mountains and begins a romance with a local schoolteacher does he begin to understand how passionately he is loved—by God, his family, and a good woman. But even as he relinquishes his fury, Nic discovers there is one last battle to fight…

A Convenient Wife by Anna Schmidt

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1800s – Massachusetts

His plan was simple—convince Caroline Hudson to take in his children as wards. Widower Tyrone Justice is stunned when the Nantucket schoolmistress requests a wedding instead! But really, what could be simpler than a marriage of convenience? Tyrone’s children will have stability, Caroline will have security…and neither Tyrone nor Caroline will have to risk their hearts once more. Bruised by past loves and losses, neither is ready to take that chance again. Unless a potentially deadly disaster makes them see the truth. Happiness lies within reach—if they’ll take a chance on the unplanned gift of love.

The Glassblower by Laurie Alice Eakes

The Glassblower

1809 – New Jersey

Now that Colin Grassick, a master glassblower from Scotland, has arrived to help at the Jordan glassworks, Meg Jordan s dreams of teaching the poor, local children are coming true. Finally, someone will have time to make windows for the rural New Jersey schoolhouse, to keep out the cold and vandals. To Joseph Pyle, the wealthy, arrogant man to whom Meg will soon be betrothed, the destruction of Meg s new windows is inconsequential as his wife, she will be forbidden from teaching. Why would Meg s father insist she marry a man like Joseph and stay away from the endearing Colin?

To Be a Mother by Cheryl St. John and Ruth Axtell Morren

1866 – Montana

Mountain Rose by Cheryl St.John
Teacher Olivia Rose knows what it’s like to grow up alone and unwanted. But convincing reserved rancher Jules Parrish he can give his orphaned niece a real home won’t be easy–unless Olivia seizes the chance of love and motherhood she never expected….

A Family of Her Own by Ruth Axtell Morren
War and tragedy destroyed Rianna Bruce’s chance at happily ever after…or did it? Reuniting with her first love, Noah Samuels, proves that her feelings haven’t gone away. In helping his young daughter, can Rianna show the disillusioned Noah the blessing of a second chance?

Love Finds You in Bridal Veil, Oregon by Miralee Ferrell

Love Finds You in Bridal Veil, Oregon

1902 – Oregon

Amidst a backdrop of thievery and murder in historic Bridal Veil, Oregon, a schoolteacher is torn between the memories of a distant love and the man who could be her future. Margaret Garvey had given her heart to Nathaniel, but he left town four years before. Now she’’s giving love another chance, but her decision to build a new life with Andrew is shaken when Nathaniel steams back into Bridal Veil on a riverboat to work at the nearby sawmill. When disaster strikes the town and threatens the welfare of its citizens, Margaret will be faced with the most important choice of her life.

A Vote of Confidence by Robin Lee Hatcher

A Vote of Confidence

1915 – Idaho

In A Vote of Confidence, the stage is set for some intriguing insight into what it was like during 1915 to be a woman in a “man’s world.”

Guinevere Arlington is a beautiful young woman determined to remain in charge of her own life. For seven years, Gwen has carved out a full life in the bustling town of Bethlehem Springs, Idaho, where she teaches piano and writes for the local newspaper. Her passion for the town, its people, and the surrounding land prompt Gwen to run for mayor. After all, who says a woman can’t do a man’s job?

But stepping outside the boundaries of convention can get messy. A shady lawyer backs Gwen, believing he can control her once she’s in office. A wealthy newcomer throws his hat into the ring in an effort to overcome opposition to the health resort he’s building north of town. When the opponents fall in love, everything changes, forcing Gwen to face what she may have to lose in order to win.

Beyond This Moment by Tamera Alexander

Beyond This Moment (Timber Ridge Reflections, Book 2)

1876 – Colorado

Dismissed from the university where she served as Professor of Romantic Languages, Dr. Molly Whitcomb travels west to start over in the secluded mountain town of Timber Ridge, Colorado, where she’ll be teaching children. Her train stops in Denver, and on a whim, Molly purchases a wedding band–an attempt to cover a mistake, but also a chance at a fresh start.
Sheriff James McPherson was eager to hire a schoolteacher, but Dr. Molly Whitcomb isn’t what he expected. His instincts about people–which rarely miss the mark–tell him she’s hiding something. And when Molly’s secret is revealed, her reinvented life begins to unravel. What’s more, she risks losing her newfound relationship with the sheriff and her renewed faith in God.

Calico Canyon by Mary Connealy

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1867 – Texas

Let yourself be swept away by this fast-paced romance, featuring Grace Calhoun, an instructor of reading, writing, and arithmetic, who, in an attempt to escape the clutches of a relentless pursuer, runs smack dab into even more trouble with the 6R’s – widower Daniel Reeves, along with his five rowdy sons. When a marriage is forced upon this hapless pair – two people who couldn’t dislike each other more – an avalanche isn’t the only potential danger lurking amid the shadows of Calico Canyon. Will they make it out alive? Or end up killing each other in the process?

Beloved Captive by Kathleen Y’Barbo

Beloved Captive: Fairweather Keys, Book 2

1836 – Louisiana and Caribbean

In this sequel to Beloved Castaway, Emilie Gayarre is learning to accept her mixed race heritage while finding fulfillment in teaching children of the key. There is no denying the attraction between Emilie and the handsome young naval commander, Caleb Spencer, who is shadowed by his own flock of secrets. But if her heritage is found out, even greater things than his career are at risk. Enjoy this historical romance full of risk and redemption.

Loving Liza Jane by Sharlene MacLaren

lovinglizajane Loving Liza Jane (Little Hickman Creek Series #1)

1895 – Kentucky

When Liza Jane Merriwether rode into the town of Little Hickman Creek, her first thought was, “Oh, Lord, what have I done?” Kentucky was much different than what she was used to back East, but she knew God had led her here for a reason. Soon, the new schoolteacher is beloved by all-including Benjamin Broughton, a handsome widower with two young children. Despite his protectiveness and the fact that Ben has rescued Liza from several scrapes, her contract implicitly states that she is to have “no improper contact with the opposite sex.” Liza has a lot to learn about God and His plan for her life.

Then Came Faith by Lousie M Gouge

Then Came Faith

Post Civil War South

An edgy novel that runs many parallels with the current day tragedy of Katrina to the aftermath of the Civil War. Moreover, this gritty novel from a gifted writer addressees the greater healing that begins in life, when we are courageous enough to lay aside our preconceived notions and personal prejudices.
The Civil War is over; Elizabeth wants to help the South heal and repent of its past…Andre swears never to forgive the North for what they did to his family.
Elizabeth has traveled to this war-ravaged city to minister to the people devastated by the conflict—having been a strict abolitionist who was part of the Underground Railroad—she seeks to help the South understand the transgression of slavery. Andre and Elizabeth’s attraction is immediate and obvious, but they quickly discover how diverse two people can be in their values and beliefs.
Even in the midst of their warring points of view, Andre cannot help but notice Elizabeth’s courage and resilience—and remarkable impact—in the face of fierce opposition. Through the commitment of three former slaves, he discovers secrets from his family’s past that force him to face head on his own views of the intrinsic worth and dignity of all people.

Waiting for Summer’s Return by Kim Vogel Sawyer

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1894 – Kansas

After losing her husband and children to typhoid, Summer Steadman lacks the desire to forge ahead to Oklahoma. Instead she seeks employment in the small Mennonite community of Gaeddert, Kansas, to be near the graves of her family. Widower Peter Ollenberger, the local gristmill owner, needs someone to teach his son. When he hears of a “learned woman” in town, he believes she is the answer to his prayers, despite the fact that he faces censure for helping an “outsider.” There is next to nothing Peter will not do for his son. But when the boy begins looking at Summer as more than a teacher, Peter battles with himself. Does he marry this woman to give his son a new mother, or does he marry only for love?

Virginia Autumn by Sara Mitchell

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1895 – Virginia

The second and final novel in Sara Mitchell’s historical Sinclair Legacy series, Virginia Autumn traces the struggles and spiritual growth of young schoolteacher Leah Sinclair and her widowed father, Jacob.

Spinster schoolteacher Leah lives by intellect and reason, unable to relate to the rich, full-hearted faith of her father and two older sisters (whose stories are told in Book One: Shenandoah Home). Yet her dogged pursuit by devout naturalist Cade Beringer suddenly brings Leah face-to-face with her doubts and fears–and with the possibility that love can bloom where she least expects it.

As Leah falls in love, and with his other daughters married and gone, Jacob faces an uncertain future. He realizes that he is too old for adventure and too young to cease working. But when the terribly scarred concert pianist Fiona Carlton enters his life, he begins to suspect that he is not, and never will be, too old for love.

Linking together two old-fashioned love stories, Mitchell beautifully addresses God’s compassion, reminding readers that the Creator is intimately aware of our hidden places of pain, and that his love for us truly is unrelenting.

Tarah’s Lessons by Tracey Bateman

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1800s – Kansas

Already frustrated by the incorrigible students she teaches on the Kansas frontier, Tarah is further troubled when Anthony Greene, the one man she has always loved, returns to town. And she is certainly not ready to graciously accept his apparent preference for the simpering Louisa Thomas, the banker’s daughter who obviously has designs for the handsome young preacher. But the appearance of two abused children in the community changes everyone. How will Tarah be able to win the trust of Laney and Ben and help them to build a new life? Will she be able to accept the gifts of friendship from Anthony, if that is all he is willing to offer? And will her heart be open to lessons God has for her in a situation that seems to offer only heartache and loneliness?

London Refrain by Bodie and Brock Thoene

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1939 – Poland

England teeters on the brink of war.
It’s no longer a question of if. It’s a matter of when.

In the dark fall of 1939, the hopes of the Polish people fade as Nazi bombers strafe the beloved city of Warsaw. Politicians debate while hundreds stand in lines at the British Embassy, desperate to flee the country before Hitler’s ground forces arrive.

Mac McGrath, a veteran American photographer, recorded the landslide toward war with dedication, believing that if he told the truth, the world would rise up and put a stop to Hitler’s evil plans. Now his foolish idealism embarrasses him.

Outside the embassy gates, Jewish schoolteacher Eva Weitzman prays for a miracle. Without a British passport, she will fall into the Nazis’ clutches.

Who will live and who will die? Will anyone dare to stand against the apathy of nations?

The Pirate and His Lady by Linda Chaikin

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1700s – Jamaica

Warm, tropical Jamaica—a hotbed of piracy, violence, and spiritual conflict. Emerald Harwick is caught amidst each.

Her fiance, Captain Baret “Foxworth” Buckington, defies the laws of the Jamaican Council and sails with notorious arch pirate Henry Morgan, hoping to find his imprisoned father among the Spanish dons.

Her marriage delayed, Jamaican law forces Emerald to also put her heart’s desire on hold: teaching Christianity to the African slaves. She fights disappointment and seeks an end to the spiritual conflict with her culture.

Emerald is caught in a web of disillusionment, anger, and fear. As Spanish sympathizers gain the ear of the king, she must face a most frightening possibility: If caught, Baret will be arrested and hanged at Execution Dock.

Where the Wild Rose Blooms by Lori Wick

Where the Wild Rose Blooms (Rocky Mountain Memories)

1873 – Colorado

Can love shatter her stubborn pride?

In the high mountains of Colorado,Clayton Taggart dreams of the day when he can leave the rough life of a mine surveyor to become a teacher. In the midst of his plans, he meets Jackie Fontaine, a newcomer from the East whose strong willed spirit causes friction from the start.

Just as the spark of love ignites, tragedy strikes, leaving Jackie with a secret so terrible she would rather lose Clay than share it with him. Can anything draw Jackie from her self–imposed exile and open the shutters of her blinded heart?

Donovan’s Daughter by Lori Wick

Donovan’s Daughter (The Californians, Book 4)

1881 – California

When an angry snowstorm forces Marcail Donovan to seek shelter for the night at the town doctor’s house, the pretty new schoolteacher is thrust into a scandal that threatens her career. The unfortunate but innocent circumstances bring harsh condemnation to Marcail, but the compassionate bachelor doctor offers her a way to remain the town’s teacher. Now she must face an inner turmoil worse than any storm. Is Donovan’s Daughter willing to give up her own dreams to bring God’s love to the children she teaches?

Whatever Tomorrow Brings by Lori Wick

Whatever Tomorrow Brings (The Californians, Book 1)

1871 – California

In the midst of fresh grief and unfamiliar surroundings, Kaitlin, the Donovans’ oldest daughter, must face life in rugged California. Will the men of this restless country take advantage of her innocence? Will she recognize God’s unexpected gift of love? Can she keep her family safe until her father returns? Grief turns to triumph and innocence to maturity as Kaitlin lifts her heart to God for the strength to face whatever tomorrow brings.